Act 4, Scene 2

[In front of Baptista’s house. Enter Tranio as Lucentio and Hortensio as Litio, a music teacher. We join them in the middle of their conversation.]

Tranio (as Lucentio)

Performance

Tranio and Hortensio, Lines 1-5

Is't possible, friend Litio, that Mistress Bianca doth fancy

any other but Lucentio? I tell you, sir,

she bears me fair in hand.

Hortensio (as Litio)

Sir, to satisfy you in what I have said, stand by and mark

the manner of his teaching.

[Hortensio and Tranio stand aside as Bianca and Lucentio enter. Earlier, Lucentio revealed to Bianca that’s he’s actually a nobleman from Pisa and that he's in love with her, but they’re still keeping up the pretense that Lucentio is just her language teacher.]

Lucentio (as Cambio)

Performance

Lucentio and Bianca, Lines 6-10

Tranio

Litio, my friend, is it possible that Bianca likes anyone more than me, Lucentio? If she’s just leading me on, she’s doing it very well.

Hortensio

To convince you of what I’ve said before, just watch the way this man teaches her.

[They stand aside. Enter Bianca, and Lucentio as Cambio]

Lucentio

Now, did you learn from what you’ve been reading?

Bianca

What have you been reading, master? First tell me that.

Lucentio

I read what I said I would: The Art to Love.

Bianca

And I hope you become master of your art.

Lucentio

While you, my dear, become mistress of my heart!

[They move away. Tranio and Hortensio come forward]

Hortensio

[to Tranio (as Lucentio)] They’re certainly moving quickly! Do you still swear that Bianca loves nobody more than Lucentio?

Wordplay

Wordplay

Lucentio parallels Bianca’s phrase, “master of your art,” with his own, “mistress of my heart.” He’s also making a pun on dear/deer and heart/hart (a male deer). I wish you, sweet dear (deer), may prove mistress of my heart (hart).”

[Bianca and Lucentio move away, out of hearing. Hortensio is still pretending to the music teacher Litio, and he still believes that Tranio is Lucentio, a nobleman from Pisa who’s also infatuated with Bianca.]

Hortensio (as Litio)

Performance

Tranio and Hortensio, Lines 11a-43

Quick proceeders, marry!

Wordplay

“Quick proceeders, marry”

[Click to see note.]

Wordplay

“Quick proceeders, marry”

Hortensio observes that Bianca and Lucentio are “quick proceeders” down a romantic path. But proceed had another, more technical, meaning back then. In the academic lingo of the time, one was said to proceed from a Bachelor’s degree to a Master of Arts degree. Bianca has just urged Lucentio to be “master of your art”; and how does one go from a bachelor’s to the next level? Hortensio unwittingly provides the answer: you “marry.”

[To Tranio (as Lucentio)] Now, tell me, I pray,

you that durst swear that your mistress Bianca

loved none in the world so well as Lucentio —

Tranio (as Lucentio)

O despiteful love! Unconstant womankind!

I tell thee, Litio, this is wonderful.

Hortensio

Mistake no more. I am not Litio

Nor a musician as I seem to be,

But one that scorn to live in this disguise

For such a one as leaves a gentleman

And makes a god of such a cullion.

Know, sir, that I am called Hortensio.

Tranio

Hortensio

To tell you the truth, I’m not Litio, and I’m not the musician that I seem to be. I can’t live in this disguise anymore — not for a girl who would turn her back on a gentleman like me, and treat that rascal like a god. You should know that my real name is Hortensio.

Tranio

Hortensio, I’ve heard a lot about your love for Bianca. If you want — since I’ve seen her careless flirting with my own eyes — we can both swear off Bianca forever.

Hortensio

Look how they kiss and flirt! Lucentio, shake my hand. I firmly vow never to woo her again. I renounce her! She’s unworthy of everything I’ve done for her.

Tranio

And I take my oath never to marry her, even if she begged. Damn her. Look how shamelessly she flirts with him!

Signor Hortensio, I have often heard

Of your entire affection to Bianca,

And since mine eyes are witness of her lightness,

I will, with you if you be so contented,

Forswear Bianca and her love for ever.

Hortensio

See how they kiss and court! Signior Lucentio,

Here is my hand, and here I firmly vow

Never to woo her no more, but do forswear her

As one unworthy all the former favors

That I have fondly flattered her withal.

Tranio

And here I take the likeunfeigned oath,

Never to marry with her, though she would entreat.

Fie on her! See how beastly she doth court him!

Hortensio

Would all the world but he had quite forsworn!

For me, that I may surely keep mine oath,

I will be married to a wealthy widow

Ere three days pass, which hath as long loved me

Hortensio

I wish everyone but Cambio had taken the same oath! As for me, I won’t break my promise. In less than three days, I’ll be married to a wealthy widow. She’s loved me as long as I’ve loved this arrogant, disdainful hawk of a woman. So goodbye, Lucentio. I prefer kindness in women over beauty. So I’ll take my leave, keeping the oath I swore earlier.

[Exit Hortensio. Lucentio and Bianca come forward again]

Tranio

Mistress Bianca, bless you with everything a lover deserves! No, nevermind. We’ve caught you, and so Hortensio and I have renounced you.

Bianca

You’re kidding, Tranio! Both of you?

Tranio

Yes.

As I have loved this proud disdainful haggard.

And so farewell, Signor Lucentio.

Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,

Shall win my love, and so I take my leave,

In resolution as I swore before.

[Exit Hortensio. Lucentio and Bianca come join Tranio, Petruchio’s servant, and hear how he has persuaded Hortensio to swear off Bianca by pretending to be a jealous Lucentio.]

Tranio (as himself)

Mistress Bianca, bless you with such grace

As 'longeth to a lover's blessèd case!

Nay, I have ta'en you napping, gentle love,

And have forsworn you with Hortensio.

Discussion

“have forsworn you with Hortensio … Then we are rid of Litio."

[Click to see note.]

Discussion

“have forsworn you with Hortensio … Then we are rid of Litio.

This is confusing. Tranio says that he has convinced Hortensio to forswear Bianca; then Lucentio says that he’s glad they’re rid of Litio. But Lucentio and Bianca have no reason to suspect that Hortensio and Litio are the same person. What’s going on here?

Bianca

Tranio, you jest. But have you both forsworn me?

Tranio

Mistress, we have.

Lucentio (as himself)

Then we are rid of Litio.

Tranio

I' faith, he'll have a lusty widow now,

That shall be wooed and wedded in a day.

Bianca

God give him joy!

Tranio

Ay, and he'll tame her.

Bianca

Lucentio

That takes care of Litio.

Tranio

He’s going after an eager widow now. They’ll be married in a day.

Bianca

Good for him!

Tranio

Yes, and he’ll tame her.

Bianca

Is that what he said?

Tranio

It’s true, he’s going to the taming school.

Bianca

The taming school? Is that a real place?

Tranio

Yes, and Petruchio is the teacher: he teaches just the right tricks to tame a shrew and control her blabbering mouth.

[Enter Biondello]

Biondello

Master! Master! I watched for so long that I’m dog-tired, but I finally saw an old man coming down the hill! He should do nicely.

Tranio

Who is he, Biondello?

Biondello

Maybe a merchant or a teacher, master, I’m not sure. But in his clothes, his stature and his expression he definitely looks like a father!

He says so, Tranio.

Tranio

Faith, he is gone unto the taming-school.

Discussion

“he'll tame her ... he is gone unto the taming-school”

[Click to see note.]

Discussion

“he'll tame her ... he is gone unto the taming-school”

Why does Tranio think that Hortensio’s going to employ Petruchio’s harsh tactics with the widow he intends to marry?

Bianca

The taming-school! What, is there such a place?

Tranio

Ay, mistress, and Petruchio is the master

That teacheth tricks eleven-and-twenty long

To tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue.

[Enter Biondello]

Biondello

[To Tranio] O master, master, I have watched so long

That I am dog-weary, but at last I spied

An ancient angel coming down the hill

Will serve the turn.

Tranio

What is he, Biondello?

Biondello

Master, a marcantant, or a pedant,

I know not what, but formal in apparel,

In gait, and countenance — surely like a father.

Lucentio

And what of him, Tranio?

Tranio

If he be credulous, and trust my tale,

I'll make him glad to seem Vincentio,

And give assurance to Baptista Minola,

As if he were the right Vincentio.

Lucentio

What do you want with him, Tranio?

Tranio

If he’s gullible and believes my story, I’ll get him to pretend to be Vincentio! That way, I can convince Baptista Minola that he’s the right Vincentio. Take your love inside and leave the rest to me.

[Exit Lucentio and Bianca. Enter a Merchant]

Merchant

Good day, sir!

Tranio

And to you. Welcome! Do you have much further to travel, or will you stop here?

Merchant

I’ll stay for a week or two, but then I’ll keep travelling as far as Rome and Tripoli.

Take in your love, and then let me alone.

[Exeunt Lucentio and Bianca. Enter a Merchant (as it turns out, he seems to be a respectable merchant rather than a school teacher)]

Merchant

Performance

Tranio and Merchant, Lines 72a-87

God save you, sir!

Tranio

And you, sir. You are welcome.

Travel you far on, or are you at the farthest?

Merchant

Sir, at the farthest for a week or two,

But then up farther, and as far as Rome,

And so to Tripoli, if God lend me life.

Cultural Context

“if God lend me life”

[Click to see note.]

Cultural Context

“if God lend me life”

This reflects the notion that we owe our souls to God; he has only lent them to us for our relatively short stay on this earth.

Tranio

What countryman, I pray?

Merchant

Of Mantua.

Tranio

Of Mantua, sir? Marry, God forbid!

Tranio

Where are you from, may I ask?

Merchant

Mantua.

Tranio

You’re from Mantua, sir? And you’ve risked your life by coming to Padua?

Merchant

My life! What do you mean, sir? That sounds serious.

Tranio

Anyone from Mantua who comes to Padua faces certain death. You don’t know why? Well, our duke is in an argument with your duke. That’s why all your ships were stopped at Venice. It’s been announced and written everywhere! It’s strange that you haven’t heard — it must be because you just got here.

Merchant

Oh no! And it’s even worse for me: I have a check from Florence that I need to cash here.

And come to Padua, careless of your life?

Merchant

My life, sir? How, I pray? For that goes hard.

Tranio

'Tis death for any one in Mantua

To come to Padua. Know you not the cause?

Your ships are stayed at Venice, and the Duke,

For private quarrel 'twixt your Duke and him,

Hath published and proclaimed it openly.

'Tis marvel, but that you are but newly come,

You might have heard it else proclaimed about.

Geographical Context

Venice, Padua

[Click to see note.]

Geographical Context

Venice, Padua

Padua is within the Duke of Venice’s jurisdiction since it’s located just outside that large, powerful city.

Merchant

Performance

Tranio and Merchant, Lines 88-120

Alas! sir, it is worse for me than so,

For I have bills for money by exchange

From Florence, and must here deliver them.

Tranio

Well, sir, to do you courtesy,

This will I do, and this I will advise you.

First, tell me, have you ever been at Pisa?

Merchant

Tranio

Well, sir, out of respect, let me offer you some advice. First, tell me, have you ever been to Pisa?

Merchant

Yes, I’ve often been to Pisa, renowned for its dignified citizens.

Tranio

Do you know one of those citizens named Vincentio?

Merchant

I don’t know him, but I have heard of him; he’s a merchant of incomparable wealth.

Tranio

He is my father, sir. Truth be told, he resembles you.

Biondello

[Aside] As much as an apple resembles an oyster.

Ay, sir, in Pisa have I often been,

Pisa renowned for grave citizens.

Tranio

Among them know you one Vincentio?

Merchant

I know him not, but I have heard of him,

A merchant of incomparable wealth.

Tranio

He is my father, sir, and, sooth to say,

In count’nance, somewhat doth resemble you.

Biondello

[Aside] As much as an apple doth an oyster — And all one.

Tranio

To save your life in this extremity,

This favour will I do you, for his sake;

And think it not the worst of all your fortunes

That you are like to Sir Vincentio.

His name and credit shall you undertake,

And in my house you shall be friendly lodged.

Tranio

To save your life in these dire circumstances, I’ll do you a favor. It’s good luck that you look like Sir Vincentio. Here’s what we’ll do: you can take his name and reputation, and live comfortably in my house; all you have to do is make sure you act like him. You understand me, sir? This way, you can stay until you’ve done your business in the city. Accept this as a favor.

Merchant

Oh, sir, I accept! You’re saving my life and my freedom.

Tranio

Then let’s go carry out the plan. By the way, I should let you know — my father is expected here any day now, because he’s supposed to promise payment for a marriage between me and the daughter of a man named Baptista. But I’ll tell you everything you need to do. Let’s go dress you appropriately.